intellectual disability

Question 1

what is a learning disability

Answer 1

• an IQ below 70
• significantly reduced ability to understand complex information or learn new skills
• reduced ability to cope independently
• a condition that starts before adulthood and has a lasting effect
• often described as a hidden disability

Question 2

what is the impact of a learning disability

Answer 2

• limited expressive language and difficulty understanding and responding to questions
• difficulty recalling and processing information
• a tendency to be acquiescent or suggestible
• difficulty understanding some social norma such as body language or tone of voice
• difficulty reading, writing, filling out forms, telling the time, concentrating for long periods
• presumptions of incompetence or lack of capacity for decision making
• long standing social disadvantage
• inaccessible communication styles and strategies

Question 3

New Zealand Disability strategy- 5 principles and approaches

Answer 3

1. te tiriti o waitangi
2. convention on the rights of persons with disabilities
3. a whole lot of life and long term approach to social investment
4. specific and mainstream supports and services- a twin track approach
5. ensuring disabled people are involved in decision making that impacts them

Question 4

8 outcome domains as priority for change

Answer 4

• education
• employment and economic security
• health and wellbeing
• rights protection and justice
• accessibility
• attitudes
• choice and control
• leadership

Question 5

what can nurses do to help disabled people

Answer 5

• provide the person with the same range, quality and standard of free or affordable health care and programmes as provided to other people
• provide those health services needed by people with disabilities specifically because of their disabilities
• provide these health services as close as possible to peoples own communities, including in rural areas
• require health professionals to provide care of the same quality to people with disabilities as to others
• prohibit discrimination against people with disabilities in the provision of health insurance, and life insurance. Prevent discriminatory denial of health care or health services or food and fluids on the basis of disability

Question 6

what are solutions to health issues disabled people may face

Answer 6

• ADOPTING a life course perspective
• IMPROVING early detection of illness by implementing annual health checks
• ENSURING that women with learning disability have access to breast and cervical cancer screening
• INCREASING disability content (including health risks associated with particular conditions, and communication styles and strategies) within all levels of health professional education
• enhancing the health literacy of people with learning disabilities
• making reasonable adjustments in all areas of health promotion and healthcare
• accessible information and longer appointments
• ensuring people with learning disabilities are included in population health databases and surveillance
• develop a trusting relationship
• listen to the person
• learn about their life context and strengths
• take the lead from them
• do not make assumptions about their life, or level of understanding
• work from the position that people want to be active participants in decisions about their health